Children’s Hospital plans facility in Highlands Ranch

Clinic could be built at Lucent and Plaza

The Children’s Hospital is working with Shea Properties to open a satellite facility in Highlands Ranch.

The proposed 117,000-square-foot complex will not be a full-scale hospital, but rather would have urgent-care services and 10 beds for overnight stays. John Kilrow, senior vice president of Shea, urged the Douglas County Planning Commission last fall to clarify the designation for the land to include hospital uses. Kilrow did not immediately respond to an interview request Feb. 24.

Slated to be built near Lucent Boulevard and Plaza Drive beginning later this year, there was a concern from nearby homeowners about potential noise and an increase in vehicle traffic. County planners have long anticipated more dense development on the property based on the Highlands Ranch Planned Development guide.

“If retail was proposed for this site, the traffic trips could potentially be about 50 percent more,” according to notes from the fall planning commission meeting.

A document submitted to the county says the “proposed land use will afford benefits to the larger community by providing the opportunity for the development of a hospital, which will provide services and job opportunities to surrounding residents.”

Allen Dreher, a board member with the Highlands Ranch Metro District, discussed the plans during a community leaders forum Feb. 24, and said the facility is just one sign that the health-care industry in thriving in the area. New medical facilities are also slated for Littleton (HealthSouth) and Lone Tree (Kaiser Permanente). Dreher was not immediately available to comment on the plans.

It is unclear how many jobs The Children’s Hospital would bring to the Highlands ranch area.

There have been no marketing campaigns and few public discussions regarding the addition of the medical center.

A source familiar with the project said final negotiations are ongoing.

A representative from The Children’s Hospital was not available for comment